LGMG North America, an aerial lift manufacturer with a parent company in China, has relocated its headquarters from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to The Colony, a suburb north of Dallas. As part of the move, the company said it is restructuring and “relaunching” amidst high import tariffs from the U.S. government.
LGMG NA also announced that it has brought back its former president and CEO, Craig Paylor, who had retired from the company at the end of 2021, to serve as president.
Craig Paylor, President of LGMG North America [Photo: LGMG North America]
The company first announced its plans to relocate to North Texas in June, citing “a disappointing ruling from the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission’s MEWP industry investigation, which resulted in significant tariffs imposed on Chinese manufacturers,” according to a report by Equipment World. The tariffs were specifically aimed at Chinese imports of the company’s core product: mobile elevated work platforms.
LGMG NA—whose Chinese parent company is the Lingong Machinery Group—opened its first North American aerial lift facility in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in January 2019. It said its relaunch in North Texas “marks a pivotal moment for the company as it scales production in North America, strengthens its U.S. presence, and reinforces its role as a reliable partner to the rental and construction industries.”
More on the new (and former) president
Paylor brings nearly five decades of industry experience to his reclaimed post as LGMG NA president, the company said.
“North America is one of our most important growth markets,” LGMG Global President Simon Zhang said in a statement. “With the right leadership, the right team, and the right focus, LGMG NA is positioned to become a trusted name in this industry for years to come.”
Paylor called the company’s relaunch “more than a fresh start.”
“We’re building a company that is consistent, responsive, and relentless in meeting our customers’ expectations,” he added in a statement.
HQ in The Colony to serve as a ‘central hub’
The company said its U.S. headquarters in The Colony serves as the central hub for inside sales, technical service support, parts distribution, and more. The “strategic location” will enable LGMG NA to move parts and equipment quickly nationwide, “providing rental partners with the fast, reliable support they need to keep fleets running strong,” the company added.
Meanwhile, a key element of the company’s restructuring lies south of the border.
Facility in Mexico enables ‘built in North America’ label
LGMG’s manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, will ensure that all the company’s equipment for the U.S. market is now built in North America, the company said. Now fully operational, the Monterrey facility is steadily increasing output, with production targeted to reach 15,000 units by 2026 and full 30,000-unit capacity within three years, the company said. The facility currently employs around 400 people, with the workforce slated to grow as production ramps up.
LGMG said it had established a North American R&D center at its Monterrey facility in 2024, focused on developing and adapting products to meet rental partner needs. The company plans expanded telehandler production in 2025 and the introduction of a high-reach aerial platform exceeding 100 feet in 2026.
The company also recently expanded its operations in Canada. In April, it established a new subsidiary, LGMG Machinery Canada Ltd., in Brantford, Ontario. That new office oversees sales, service, and technical support for the Canadian market.
With sales reps across the U.S., LGMG said partners with rental companies of all sizes, from major national accounts to independent rental companies.
LGMG operates in over 100 countries, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, South Korea, Australia, and Japan.
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